Electric switch



July 29, 1952 A. G. SIFRIED Re. 23,530

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed Feb. '7,' 1944 Reissuecl July 29, 1952 I Anthony G. Seifried, Akron, Ohio,

The B. F. Goodrich Company,

assigner to New York, N. Y.,

. a corporation of New York Original No. 2,433,163, da

Serial N 0. 521,305,

ted December 23, 1947, February 7,

1944. Application for reissue August 3, 1949, Serial No.

v15 claims.

reissue specification; .matter printed in The 'invention relates lto electric circuit breaking switches and especially to switches suitable for use in the presence 'o'f inflammable materials such, for example, asgasoline and benzine;

For protective purposes electric circuit breaking switches may be enclosed in v protective casings or housings and provided with external operating handles for operating the mechanical switching means formaking and breaking the circuit. Because of difilculty in sealing such casings and because of arcing atthe exposed make-and-break contacts of the switching mechanisms, the enclosed switches of prior constructions'have not been wholly satisfactory'for reliable and extended operation in a cyclical manner, especially in explosive atmospheres where safety is of paramount importance.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide for effectively making and breaking the electric circuit in a non-arcing manner; to provide i (C1. 20c-152) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original for reliability and safety of operation of electric switches, especiall'yin the presence of innammable materials; kto provide for relative rapidity of cyclical operation of such switches; and to provide simplicityand compactness of construction, convenience of manufacture and servicing, and effectiveness o'f' operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a switch having fluid-contact means arranged for operation by correlated quick-make and quickbreak means; to provide an improved switclmespecially a switch in whichthe contacts cannot be stuck or frozen together as is possible in the knife blade type of switch; and to provide for removing the switch. as the enclosing casing.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andrinwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, I v

Fig. 1 is a plan view from above of an' electric switch mounted in a protective casing and constructed in accordance with'and'embodying the invention, parts being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewvin elevation taken along line'2-'2 of Fig. l, and f Fig. 3 is a view like Fig'. 2 taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away,

an integral unit from Fig. 4 is a perspective form unit.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings. a casing or housing 'l0 protects the electric switching means mounted therein against inflammable materials and against objectionable dust or otherforeign material deposits. The housing I0 may be of cast or sheet metal or other suitable stiff material construction having a lower part l I and an upper part I2 which parts I I and I2, when in assembled relation, may be held detachably together in substantially `sealing contact along their abutting anged margins by a plurality of screw fasteners I3, I3 extending through apertures in bosses I4, I4 of the hanged margin of the upper part and engaging the threaded walls of registering apertures in likel bosses of the flanged margin of thelower part. The lower part Il may also beprvidedwith at-l taching lugs I5, I5 for facilitating mounting the housing on a surface such, for example, asa iloor by suitable `iaste'ners (not shown) extendingl through apertures in such lugs.

The electric switching means within the hous# ing I9 includes a base member 2| of suitable electrical insulating material such, for example', as phenol-aldehyde plastic materialdetachably secured to the bottom wall of the lower part Il as by screw fasteners 22, 22. spaced-apart pedestals 23, 23 are positioned at the sides and intermediate the ends of the base member and may be attached thereto as by spacedapart screw fasteners 2l, 24 the pedestals may include lubricant-impregnateclk bearing sleeves withinaligned apertures for re#` ceiving tru'nnions 25, 25 of a rocking platform or oscillating structure 26 extending between the pedestals transversely'of thebase member. v

The rocking platform 26 comprises a central 'web or elongated plate element `30 includingthe integral trunnioris25,v 25 of relatively strong Vstil" material such',"for example, as steel, the plate element having an aperture therethrough intermediate its endsfor receiving and supporting a closed container 3|, desirably of cylindrical form.

Elongated supporting elements 32, 32 of suitable electrical insulating plastic material and of substantially like `form as vthat of the plate elementl are mounted at opposite sides of the plate element as by screw fasteners and may extend substantially along the extent of such plate element.

patent but fprms no part of this italics indicates the additions made by reissue. 'Y

'I'he supporting elements 32, 32 have rounded grooves at the upper parts thereof inv register with the aperture in the plate element 30 for accommodating and further supporting the closed container 3| by providing a seat therefor below the axis of the trunnions 25, 25. The arrangement, as will be seen in Figs. 1 to 4 and especially in Fig. 3,is such that the container orcartridge 31 is intersected by the axis of oscillation of the platform 26, and by virtue of this intersection, the cartridge is quickly tilted under the oscillation of the platform about its axis without movement in translation of the cartridge as a whole,

so that maximum speed is eectecl in the action maintain such "reaches ina generally parallel and spaced relation overlying the rocking platform in a condition to accommodate the rocking movement of the latter and to promote flexing in such reaches. The springs 55, 55 may also further relieve the conductors of exing strains adjacent` the positioningL elementsand the mounting members. It'is tobe understood that the springs 55,' 55 may extend continuously along and adjacent the reaches of the flexible conductors and that other means such, for example,

as fiat strip springs or other resilient means may be providedfor so, maintaining and positioning thereaches of the flexible conductors.

The oscillating' or rocking movement of the oscillating structure 26 about the axis of oscillation through a small degree of angular movement, fas shown especially in Figs. l to 3, may

' be'r accomplishedbyja lever 56 at one end of the The conductor channels as bygrspaced-apart screw fasteners c' 38a, 38h, 38e and 38d and include end portions 39 overlying the grooves in the supporting elements 32, which end portions are adapted to press in a springing manner against the closed container 3| Vthereby retaining detachably the container on the rocking platform 26 despite the rocking movement of the latter.

For conducting the current from the conductor elements 36,36, spaced-apart flexible conductors 4| and 42 .extend between and are mounted on the base member 2| and the rocking platform 26 with open-looped reaches of the flexible conductors therebetween, as shown especially inFig. 2, for accommodating the rocking movement of such platform. At the rocking platform, the flexible conductors 4| and 42 may be connected to the conductor elements 36 by the screw fasteners 38h and 38o, respectively. For positioning and assisting in relieving flexing strains on the flexible conductors adjacent the rocking platform, positioning elements 43 ofl suitable electrical insulatingfpla'stic .material having spacedapart aperturesl maybe-provided .and attached to the supportingelements 32 as by screw fasteners, as shown especially in Fig. 1. The flexible conductors 4| and 42 extend from the fasteners 38h and 38e downwardly through the adjacent apertures in the positioning elements, are .looped-'beneath the latter elements. and extend upwardly throughfthe other apertures therein, the conductors terminating desrably at apertured mounting members 41, 41attached to the base member 2| as by screw fasteners. The flexible conductor 4| extends through an aperture in the mountingmember 41 to a terminal screw 5|. However, the lflexible conductor 42 extends through the aperture in the yother mounting member 41 and is secured to a strip element 52 of suitable conductive material as by a screw fastener, which strip element 52 extends along a channel in the base member 2| toa second terminal screwV 53\..` Suitable lead-in connectors 48 may be attached to 'the terminal screws 5| and 53 and extend through suitable sealed apertures in the Wall of the casing l0.

Coil springs 5555` of relatively short extent as compared to that-of the reaches of the ilexible conductors 4| and 42 may be disposed adjacent such conductors and seated Within the apertures of the positioning elements 43, 43 `and of the mounting members 41,` 41 in a manner to4 plate element, preferably integral therewith, the leverv including a rotatable projecting journal 51 at itsend opposite the plate element for rolling engagement with albifurca'ted element 5 8 -mountedon a -ro'tatabl'e Ishaft V'structure i 59 f for'I pivotal movement relative to such structure. A coil spring A6|! mounted on the shaft 59 and having its respective ends engaging Athe bottom Wall ofthe .casing` |0 and aprojection on the shaft cooperates withlan adjusting Structure'BI on the shaft structure 59 to'rn'aintain the rocking platform 26 in) the\ofi 'or circuit breaking position. End portions-ofthe shaft 59 may extend through apertures in the side wallsof vthe casing, one end portion being retained by a collar fastener 64' and a washer 65, While asuitable foot- 4 pedal or operating lever 62 may be mountedv on the other end portion for rotating the shaft 59.

For making and breaking' the electric circuit, v

the cylindricalclosed container 3|includes therein electricallyconductive flowable material such,

- for exam-ple, as mercury and includes spacedapart contacter elements or end portions 68 and 69 of electrically conductive materialinterconnected by ajoining portion 10 vof electrical lnsulatingmaterial.- They closed container 3| is disposedin the aperture of the plate element 39 such, thatfthe vinsulating joining portionl 19 is atl the elementi30 while the endportions 68 and 69 are seated Vinthe grooves of Vand supported by the insulating supporting elements 32, 32. The endvportions 39, 39 of theconductor'elements 36, 36 Ycontact electrically and press against the end portions 68 and 69, thereby holding the closed container on the rocking platform while facilitating quick removal of such container for servicing the electric switch. The spring pressing action of the conductor elements on the container prevents effectively arcing at such end portions 68and 69..

In the operation of theelectric switch the footpedal 62 is depressed from its off position rotating the shaft structure 59 whichin turn pivotally moves thebifurcated element 58 downwardly toward the bottom wall of the casing |9. This movement of,V the bifurcated element 58 causes the rocking .platform 26 to pivot or rock on its` trunnions r25, '25,'due to the rolling engagement' of the element 58 with the projecting journal 51 of the lever 56 on such platform.y The rocking or oscillating ofA the platform 26,-when the footpedal 62' isy depressedyinclines vthe closed container 3| such that the' mercury therein flows from the end portion 68 across the joining portion 10 to the end portion 69 thereby completing the circuit through thev ,container 3|. Current may then flow, for example, from the connection at the terminal screw 53 through the strip element 52 and the iiexible conductor 42 to the conductor element 36 and to and through the closed container 3l. The current then Ilows from the container 3l through the other conductorelement 36 to and through the exible conductor to the other terminal screw 5I. When the foot-pedal is released, it returns to its starting or oil position under the action of the spring E0, and the platform pivots in the reverse direction oscillating the container 3l such that the mercury flowsto the end portion 68 and is no longer in Contact with the other end portion 69 thereby breaking the circuit through such container. 'Ihe arrangement is such that only slight changes in the position of the foot-pedal are required for oscillating the rocking platform sufficiently to make-and-break the circuit through the container which facilitates rapidity of operation without exposed arcing hence eliminatingf any ilre hazard in the presence of inflammable materials.

During the oscillating movement of the oscillating structure 2E the exible conductors 4| and 42 are maintained by the coil springs 55, 55 in a condition to accommodate such movement while such conductors ex continuously andsubstantially uniformly along their reaches between the structure and the base member by virtue of their freely swung condition thereby promoting long and substantially service-free life of the electric switch.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A switch comprising a housing, a base member including spaced-apart pedestals having apertures mounted within said housing, an oscillating structure comprising a plate element of metal material having trunnions at the ends and an aperture intermediate said ends, said trunnions being disposed in the apertures of said pedestals for supporting said structure, spaced-apart supporting elements of insulating material at opp posite sides of and carried by said plate element and a lever at one end of said plate element for oscillating said structure, said lever including a rotatable projecting journal at its .end opposite said plate element, a closed container extending throughy the aperture in said plate element and supported by said supporting elements, said container comprising electrically conductive flowable material and contactor portions at said supporting elements adapted to be contacted by said iiowable material when said structure is oscillated, conductor elements mounted on said supporting elements and resiliently engaging said contactor portions and holding said container, means connecting said conductor elements to an electric circuit, and means for oscillating said structure for making and breaking the circuit through said container, the oscillating means including a pivotally mounted bifurcated element engaging said projecting journal 'and spring means for maintaining said structure in the cir-v cuit breaking position, the connecting means comprising spaced-apart kflexible conductors mounted on said base member and on said structure at said supporting elements with generally parallel open-looped reaches ofthe flexible conductors in upstanding positions therebetween and sleeves of helically-Woundspring wire surrounding the flexible conductors at and secured to said base member and. said supporting elements and extending along 'said conductors With the adjacent ends of the sleeves disposed beyond the base member and the structure for maintaining the reaches in saidupstanding positions.

, 2. A switch for making and breaking an electric circuit through a closed container having electrically conductive flowable material therein, said switch comprising an oscillating structure for supporting and imparting oscillating movement to said container, said structure comprising a plate element of stiff material having an aperture intermediate its ends for receiving said container and trunnions at said ends, spaced-apart supporting elements of insulating material at opposite sides of and carried by said plate element for supporting said container, conductor means mounted on said supporting elements for electrically engaging and detachably holding said container on said structure, and means for oscillating said structure.

3. A switch `for making and breaking an electric circuit through a closed container having electrically conductive iiowable material therein, said switch comprising an oscillating structure for supporting and imparting oscillating movement to said container, said structure comprising a metal plate element having supporting trunnions at its ends and having an aperture intermediate said ends for receiving said container, bearings for said trunnions, spaced-apart supporting elements of insulating material secured to said plate element at opposite sides thereof and having grooves in register with said aperture for embracing said container, spring conductor elements mounted on said supporting elements and extending across said grooves for electrically engaging and resiliently holding said container, and a lever` secured to said plate element at one of said ends for oscillating said structure.

4. A switch for making and breaking an electric circuit through a closed container having electrically conductive ilowable material therein, said switch comprising an oscillating structure forsupporting and imparting oscillating movement to said container, said structure comprising a plate element of stiff material having an aperture intermediate its ends for receiving said container and trunnions at said ends, spaced-apart supporting elements of insulating material at opposite sides of and carried by said plate element for supporting said container', conductor means mounted on said supporting elements for electri-I cally engaging and detachably holding said container on said structure, .means for connecting said conductor means to the electric circuit and comprising a single open-looped reach of iiexible conductor extending from said oscillating structure in upstandingposition over said structure and resilient means for maintaining said reach connected to said structure in the upstanding position clear of adjacent structure while accommodating the oscillating movement of said oscillating structure, and means for oscillating said structure.

5. A switch for making and breaking an electric circuit through a closed container having electrically conductive flowable material therein, said switch comprising an oscillating stricture for supporting and imparting oscillating movement to said container, said structure comprising a metal plate element having supporting trunnions at its ends and having an aperture interbearings for said trunnions, spaced-apart supporting elements of insulating material secured to said plate element at oppositesides thereof and having grooves in register with said aperture for embracing said container, springconductor Aelements mounted on said supporting elements and extending across said grooves for electrically engagingand resiliently holding said container, a lever secured to said plate element at one of said ends for oscillating said structure, and means for connecting said conductor element to an electrical circuit, the connecting means comprising a single open-looped reach of flexible conductor extending from said oscillating structure in upstanding position over, and clear of said structure and a `flexible sleeve of spring wire closely coiled about said flexible conductor at vsaid structure and terminating beyond the latter for so maintaining said iiexible conductor in said position while accommodating the oscillating movement of saids'tructure. n Y

6. -A safety switch for extensive operation and relatively rapid frequency of making and breaking an electric circuit through a closed container having electrically conductive flowable material therein, said switch comprising an oscillating structure including a single integral rocking platform of stiff material having a length along the axis of oscillation at least equal to the width thereof and mounting means at the ends of the platform extending outwardly therefrom along said axis for permitting oscillating movement of said structure, said platform having an opening therein intermediate Asaid ends extending across said axis from side to` side of the structure for receiving said container, the wall of said opening being continuously annular for supporting said container and circumferentially embracing entirely about the latter, conductor means for connecting said container to an electric circuit and comprising a single open-looped reach of flexible conductor extending from said platform in upstanding position over said platform from one side of said axis to the other `side thereof and means for maintaining said .reach connected toy relation to said platform and the aforesaidrelation to said axis clear of adjacent structurerwhile,

accommodating oscillating movement ofsaid oscillating structure and promoting continuity of substantially uniform flexing along said reach of said flexible conductor during saidmovement,

and means for oscillating said platform aboutsaidlaxis through a small degree of angular movement for making and breaking the circuit through the container.

7. A safety switch for extensive operationand relatively rapid frequency of making and breaking an electriccircuit through a closed container having electrically conductive iiowable material therein, said switch comprising yan oscillating structure comprising a single integral and elongated rocking member of stiff material disposed at and extending lengthwise along the axis of oscillation of said structure, said member having a trunnion of said material integrally united with the material of said member at each end of the latter and extending outwardly therefrom along said axis of oscillation and said member having an opening therethrough intermediate `the ends cuit while accommodating the oscillating movement of. said structure, and means for oscillating said structure about said axisthrough a small degree Aof angular movement for making and breaking thecircuit through the container.

8. A safety switch for extensive operation and relativelyjrapid frequency of making and breaking an electriccircuit through a closed container having electrically conductive flowable material therein', said switch comprising an oscillating structure comprising an elongated rocking member of stiff plate material disposed at and extending lengthwise along the axis of oscillation of said structure, said member having a trunnion of stiff material integrally united with said material of the memberl at each end of the latter and opposite spaced-apart relatively flat and broad sides and' having a bore therethrough intermediate'the ends and extending between said sides across said axis for receiving and circumferentially enclosing said container, spaced-apart supporting elements of vinsulating material extending along said member and carried by said member at said opposite sides, conductor elements of resilient material mountedon and extending along said supporting elements and constructed and arranged to resiliently maintain said container in said bore in a freely detachable manner and to electricallyengage said container, means for connecting said conductor elements to an electrical circuit while accommodating oscillating movement of s aid structure, and means for oscillating said structure about said axis through a small degree of angular movement for making and breaking the circuit through the container.

9. An oscillating structure for a safety switch adapted for frequently making and breaking an electric circuit through a closed container having electrically conductive liquid material therein, said structure comprising an elongated rocking member of stiff plate material for disposition at and lengthwise along the axis of oscillation, said member having trunnions of stiif material integrally united therewith and extending outwardly from the ends of said member at and along said axis and said member having a bore therethrough intermediate said ends and extending between opposite sides of said member in the direction across said axis for receiving said container therein, spaced-apart supporting elements of insulating material at said sides and carried by said member, and means including conductor means for holding said container in a freely detachable manner on said structure in said bore and for connecting said container to an electric circuit.

10. An oscillating structure for a safety switch adapted for frequently making and breaking an electric circuit through an elongated closed container having electrically conductive liquid material therein and contacter elements at its ends, said structure comprising an elongated rocking member of stiff metal plate material for disposition at and lengthwise along the axis of oscillation, said member having trunnions of said material integrally united therewith and extending outwardly from the ends of said mem-ber at and along said axis and said member having a bore therethrough intermediate the depth thereof and said ends and extending between opposite sides of said member in the direction across said axis for receiving said container therein, the wall of said bore extending entirely about the circumferential extent of said container, spaced-apart supporting elements of insulating material at and extending along said sides and carried by said member, said elements having openings therethrough in register with said bore providing Walls oi said insulating material for supporting said container at said contacter elements, and means including conductor elements of resilient metal material mounted on and extending along said supporting elements for electrically engaging said contactor elements and connecting said container to an electric circuit, said conduct-or elements being constructed and arranged to hold said container in a freely detachable manner in said bore of said member and said openings in said supporting elements.

11. A switch comprising a base member, a platform mounted on said base member for rocking movement about an axis, means on said platform for making and breaking an electric circuit under the rocking movement, a pair of flexibleconductors axially spaced-apart and mounted on said base member at opposite sides of said axis, each conductor extending in a loop across the platform to a position thereon at the opposite side of said axis in crossed relation with the other loop so that the iniiuence of one of said conductors in aiecting the rocking movement of said platform tends to counteract the influence of the other conductor under the rocking movement, and means for rocking said platform for making and breaking the circuit through the first said means.

12. A switch comprising a base, an elongated platform mounted on said base member for rocking movement about an axis and extending lengthwise along said axis, contact means including conductor elements on said platform spacedapart transversely of said axis for making and breaking an electric circuit under the rocking movement, a pair of flexible conductors mounted on said base member at opposite sides of said axis, each conductor extending in a loop in upstanding position with relation to said platform to a position on the latter at the opposite side of said axis in crossed relation With the other loop so that the influence of one of said conductors in affecting the rocking movement of said platform tends to counteract the influence of the other conductor under the rocking movement, and means for rocking said platform for making and breaking the circuit through said contact means.

13. A safety switch for extensive operation and relatively rapid frequency of making and breaking an electric circuit through a clos-ed container having electrically conductive fiowable material therein, said switch comprising an oscillating structure comprising a single integral and elongated rocking member of stiff material disposed at and extending lengthwise along the axis of oscillationl of said structure, said member having a trunnion of said material integrally united with the material of said member at each end of the latter and extending outwardly therefrom along said axis of oscillation and said member having an opening therethrough intermediate the ends and extending from side to side of said member across said axis of oscillation for receiving said container therein, means for detachably mounting and holding said container on said structure and in said opening of the rocking member in a disposition across said axis, said means including a supporting element of insulating material on said rocking member at said opening thereof providing with such member a seat to support said container with said axis intersecting said container at an intermediate region thereof so that by virtue of such intersection quick tilting of said container under oscillation of said structure about said axis is effec-ted without movement in translation of said container as a whole, means for connecting said container to an electric circuit while accommodating the oscillating movement of said structure, and means for oscillating said structure about said axis through a small degree of angular movement for making and breaking the circuit through the container.

14. A switch comprising a base member, a platform mounted on said base member for rocking movement about an axis, means including a closed container having electrically conductive flowable material therein on said platform for making and breaking an electric circuit through said container under the rocking movement, said container having a disposition on said platform in the direction across said axis such that said axis intersects said container at an intermediate region thereof so that by virtue of such intersection quick tilting of said container under the rocking movement about said axis is ejected without movement in translation of said container as a whole, a pair of flexible conductors in electrically connected relation to said container disposed axially spaced-apart and mounted on said base member at a side of said axis, each conductor extending in a loop across the platform to a position thereon at the region of said axis, and means for rocking said platform for making and breaking the circuit through said container.

15. A switch comprising a base, an elongated platform mounted on said base for rocking movement about an axis and extending lengthwise along said axis to provide a seat disposed transversely of said axis and between the ends of said platform for supporting a closed container having electrically conductive flowable material therein on said seat with said axis intersecting said container at an intermediate region thereof so that by virtue of such intersection quick tilting of said container under the rocking 'movement about said axis is effected without movement in translation of said container as a whole, contact means including conductor elements on said platform spaced-apart transversely of said axis for electrical connection to said container for making and breaking an electric circuit through said container under the rocking movement, and a pair of flexible conductors each mounted on said base at a side of said axis and each extending in a loop in upstanding position with relation to said platform to a position on said platform at the region of said axis, and means for rocking said platform for making and break- `ing the circuit through said contact means and the closed container.

ANTHONY G. SEIFRIED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent or the original patent:l

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,701,398 Vickery Feb. 5, 1929 1,739,293 Deems Dec. 10, 1929 1,831,936 Walker Nov. 17, 1931 1,837,248 Aalborg Dec. 22, 1931 1,852,539 Ross Apr. 5, 1932 1,906,118 Staley Apr. 25, 1933 1,957,814 Anderson May 8, 1934 

